Pope Francis’ bounce back to ministry for Holy Week

When most people are admitted to the hospital, they stay in bed and recover. Unless, you are Pope Francis! Not even two days after he started treatment for a respiratory infection, the pope took to visiting the sick at Gemelli General Hospital in Rome, last Friday. In the pediatric oncology wards, he played and prayed with sick children. He had a pizza party with his medical team and the hospital’s care staff, and baptized a baby. And even on his way home, he stopped to console grieving parents whose child had died the night before.

“Inside the Vatican” hosts, Ricardo da Silva, S.J. and Gerard O’Connell discuss how the pope bounced back from bronchitis, silencing the ever-growing stirrings of his resignation in time to preside at the Mass that ushers in the holiest week of the Christian calendar.

In the second half of the show, Gerry and Ricardo reflect on the pope’s homily for Palm Sunday and preview the Vatican’s plans for the Easter Triduum. 

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Links from the show

Pope Francis in hospital

• After hospital pizza party and baptizing a baby, Pope Francis expected to return to Vatican Saturday
• Pope Francis’ hospitalization actually gave me hope for the Catholic Church

Holy Week at the Vatican

• Pope Francis, out of hospital, presides at Palm Sunday celebration
• Read: Pope Francis’ homily for Palm Sunday 2023. ‘The abandoned’ are the ‘Christs of our day.’
• Cardinal Farrell: Pope Francis’ critics are wrong. He’s no autocrat.

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